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DST conducts unmanned underwater glider trials

by Andrew McLaughlin
written by Andrew McLaughlin
From Left, Neil Tavener, Bryan Clarke, Alan Lavery (from Ron Allum Deepsea Services), and Peter Formby from the Defence Science and Technology Group with the Sun Ray Glider at Woronora Dam, Sydney. *** Local Caption *** The Sun Ray Glider unmanned undersea flying wing was put through a series of underwater tests at Woronora Dam southwest of Sydney. The glider contains an internal buoyancy vessel that can be flooded or pumped out to change the vehicle's displacement, making it sink or rise. The resulting movement of water over the wing's surface generates forward thrust, removing the need for propeller or waterjet propulsion. It is built partly of syntactic composite foam that holds its shape even at extreme pressures, giving the glider greater depth capability than manned submarines. It may allow missions of up to three months, gliding more than 2,000 nautical miles.

(L-R) Neil Tavener, Bryan Clarke, and Alan Lavery from Ron Allum Deepsea Services, and Peter Formby from the DST Group with the Sun Ray Glider. (Defence)

The Defence Science and Technology Group (DST) has conducted a series of underwater tests with an unmanned undersea glider at Woronora Dam near Sydney.

The flying wing shaped Sun Ray Glider has a roughly five metre wingspan. For the trial which was conducted in March, the glider was launched and recovered from a barge with the support of a team from Ron Allum Deepsea Services.

A Defence release says the glider contains an internal buoyancy vessel that can be flooded or pumped out to change the vehicle’s displacement, making it sink or rise. The resulting movement of water over the wing’s surface generates forward thrust, removing the need for propeller or waterjet propulsion.

The glider is partly made from syntactic composite foam that holds its shape even at extreme pressures, giving the glider greater depth capability than manned submarines. Defence says the concept may allow missions of up to three months and more than 2,000 nautical miles.

Alan Lavery from the Ron Allum Deepsea Services, prepares to launch the Sun Ray Glider at Woronora Dam, Sydney. *** Local Caption *** The Sun Ray Glider unmanned undersea flying wing was put through a series of underwater tests at Woronora Dam southwest of Sydney. The glider contains an internal buoyancy vessel that can be flooded or pumped out to change the vehicle's displacement, making it sink or rise. The resulting movement of water over the wing's surface generates forward thrust, removing the need for propeller or waterjet propulsion. It is built partly of syntactic composite foam that holds its shape even at extreme pressures, giving the glider greater depth capability than manned submarines. It may allow missions of up to three months, gliding more than 2,000 nautical miles.

The Sun Ray Glider is prepared for launch at Woronora Dam south of Sydney. (Defence)

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